Medical malpractice in Florida is defined as a healthcare provider’s professional negligence that results in a patient’s injury or death. To prove that medical malpractice has occurred, it must be shown that the healthcare provider breached the standard of care owed to the patient and that this breach resulted in the patient’s injury or death.
The Different Types of Medical Malpractice
- Failure to Diagnose
One of the most common types of medical malpractice is when a healthcare provider fails to diagnose a patient’s illness or condition. This can occur when the provider does not order the appropriate tests or does not interpret the results of tests correctly. As a result, the patient may not receive the necessary treatment and their condition may worsen.
- Missed Laboratory Results
Another common type of medical malpractice is when a provider fails to review or follow up on laboratory results. When this occurs, a patient’s condition may worsen, or they may develop complications that could have been avoided with proper treatment.
- Medication Errors
Medication errors are also a common type of medical malpractice. This can occur when a healthcare provider prescribes the wrong medication or dosage or when a pharmacy dispenses the wrong medication or dosage.
Medication errors can also occur when a health care provider fails to monitor a patient’s response to medication or fails to educate a patient about their medication properly.
- Surgical Errors
Surgical errors are another common type of medical malpractice. This can occur when a surgeon operates on the wrong body part, makes an error during the surgery, or leaves a foreign object in the patient’s body.
Surgical errors can also occur when a surgeon fails to monitor a patient’s vital signs during surgery properly or fails to properly educate a patient about the risks and benefits of surgery.
Assigning Liability for Medical Malpractice
If you or a loved one has been injured by medical malpractice, it is important to understand that you may have a legal claim against the healthcare provider or hospital.
To succeed in a medical malpractice claim, you must prove that the healthcare provider or hospital was negligent. This means that you must show that the healthcare provider or hospital did not provide the standard of care that a reasonable healthcare provider or hospital would have provided in the same or similar circumstances.
It is important to understand that not all medical errors will give rise to a legal claim. To succeed in a medical malpractice claim, you must also prove that the medical error caused you or a loved one to suffer an injury.
If you or a loved one has been injured by medical malpractice, you should contact an experienced medical malpractice attorney to discuss your legal options.
The Bottom Line
Many factors contribute to what constitutes medical malpractice in Florida. These include the type of medical care that was provided, the level of care that was expected, and the outcome of the patient’s care. In addition, the court will also consider the type of injuries that were sustained and the amount of damages that were incurred.
Do you need the help of medical malpractice attorneys in Tampa, FL? Mendes, Reins & Wilander can help you out. We will help you get the compensation you deserve. Get in touch with us.